Can a Canadian firm bid on Australian government tenders?

Federal agencies follow the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, which require open approaches to market on AusTender above set thresholds. States run their own portals and rules, and their coverage under trade agreements varies.

What decides whether you can win

• Panels. Most federal digital work goes through the Digital Transformation Agency's BuyICT platform and panels such as the Digital Marketplace Panel. If an opportunity is posted to a panel, only its sellers can respond.
• Registration. Australian buyers expect an ABN from local suppliers; overseas firms may need one, or GST registration, to contract and invoice.
• Security. Agencies often ask about your Essential Eight maturity, cloud services handling sensitive data may be expected to have an IRAP assessment, and staff on sensitive work may need an AGSVA clearance, which the agency sponsors.
• Data sovereignty. Many cloud contracts require data held in Australia.
• Time zones and delivery. Buyers score how you'll deliver and support the work, so explain how you'll cover Australian hours.

Next step

Register on AusTender and create a seller profile on BuyICT, then apply to the panel that fits your services when it is open to new sellers. See how to join the BuyICT Digital Marketplace and the Australia country guide.